Last night's dinner was smaller - just 6 of us plus Joshua - more relaxed and DELICIOUS! Apart from the cheese puffs (which unfortunately did not PUFF), everything else was just right. I have been totally and completely won over to Seafood Stew. Succulent, lucious, and not fishy or seafoody at all. In fact I think the recipe should be renamed Succulent Seafood Stew or maybe Sumptuous Seafood Stew.
Craig, Connor and Sophie represented the Clines and Amy, Sebastian, Joshua & I rounded out the table. Sebastian supplied the anise flavored liquor required for the finishing flavors of the stew, and after smelling the strong licorice aroma of the Sambuca I was reluctant to pour all 3 tbsp into my gorgeous stew. I closed my eyes and dumped all of it, and I am so glad I did. The flavor, as Craig put it was "very complex"! The chocolate orange mousse was so chocolatey, smooth and slightly orangey and EVERYONE enjoyed it. The sleeper hit of the night was a toasted sourdough baguette, rubbed with garlic and buttered. Connor was our garlic rubber and the flavor was light but apparent. Lovely!
Craig, Connor and Sophie represented the Clines and Amy, Sebastian, Joshua & I rounded out the table. Sebastian supplied the anise flavored liquor required for the finishing flavors of the stew, and after smelling the strong licorice aroma of the Sambuca I was reluctant to pour all 3 tbsp into my gorgeous stew. I closed my eyes and dumped all of it, and I am so glad I did. The flavor, as Craig put it was "very complex"! The chocolate orange mousse was so chocolatey, smooth and slightly orangey and EVERYONE enjoyed it. The sleeper hit of the night was a toasted sourdough baguette, rubbed with garlic and buttered. Connor was our garlic rubber and the flavor was light but apparent. Lovely!
I needed shrimp shells to flavor the seafood stock so yesterday Joshua and I shelled about 40 shrimp. He was a machine! He ripped the tails off of each shrimp and I removed the rest of the shell. Unbelievable and utterly fun to watch him doing it so capably. Connor and I will cook together this week! More details to come...
